Nitty Gritty-Sun Prairie

Intereseting concept: Converted canning operation building. Pleasant atmosphere. Loud, but not so much that we could not hold a conversation. Cool reception at best at front door. No one smiling. Hostest was utilitarian; not warm or engaging at all. Waitress was very friendly and warm. Great first contact and initial follow through. Started to slip after that. Ordered appetizer fries. We are glutten free and were assured that they had a seperate fryer for such. Meal arrived, but not the appetizers. We asked and Waitress appologized, went to kitchen, and immediatly returned with the fries. Having an order come that fast (and being as warm as they were) made us worry as to whether this was the gluten free order, or just a regular order grabbed to save time. We risked it, and fortuantely they proved to be the G-frees. We lacked some silverware and needed more napkings - it took a while for us to flag our Waitress down to request them. We also had to wait longer than we expected for drink refills. Food was hot and tastey. Nice selection offered on the menu. When we left, no one offered a "thanks for coming" comment of any type...just looks of acknowlegement that a customer was leaving. The atmosphere and food will bring us back, but if you like a more personalized experience - unless you know someone to ask for specifically, be prepared for a bit of a let down.

We discovered Nitty Gritty (“NG”) while attending the 2025 Destination Imagination (S.E.) Regional Tournament, and we are glad we did! It has instantly become a fab for us in this area! For First-Time Visitors: NG is located inside a historic converted canning factory in a safe and pleasant area of downtown. Adequate on-street parking as well as some adjacent lot parking. Outdoor seating available near the entrance.. The interior boasts the high-ceiling charm typical of these types of converted buildings. TV screens displaying the latest sports events are scattered throughout the space. Both booth and table seating are available, along with larger rooms suitable for meetings, parties, and other gatherings. Cutting right to the chase: NG’s greatest asset during our visit was our server, “Phredde” (pronounced “Fred,” also known as “Sam”—it's a long story, but she can share that with you if she wants to!). She was a total ROCK STAR, making what most would consider top-tier service look second class. Phredde (Sam) was prompt, attentive, professional, and had a fantastic personality, which is essential when serving people like us! She accurately took our orders, especially for my wife, who has Celiac disease, ensuring everything was correct, hot, timely and safe. While our initial arrival here didn’t feel particularly welcoming, she completely turned that, around, making us feel like honored guests. From what we observed at our table, we were not the only ones benefitting from this level of care; this seems to be Sam’s default setting when serving guests at NG (okay, I’ll start using her real name - I think I've “damaged” her enough by now!!). We plan on returning to the area within the coming weeks, and we will be looking for Sam as our server again! If you stop by - you should be asking for her also! Sam will make your day! Next, the food. Fabulous! I took advantage of the Friday Fish Fry, Soft Pretzel Appetizer, and their “Worlds Smallest Sunday” (although, I am sure that Ed Dedevic’s in Chicago may have something to say about that claim!). The Soft Pretzel Sticks (4 count, about 6” x 1” each) were warm and delicious. Firm, but not unforgivingly tough. The cheese sauce for dipping was a great addition ( I passed on mustard - hate mustard!). The sticks were tasty just on their own. They were not salted, which I prefer. While others often choose lesser-quality cuts for their events, NG uses premium cuts of cod that are light and flavorful. Instead of a thick layer of partially fried dough, their cod is enveloped in a very light and fully cooked batter. The accompanying fries were lightly salted and cooked to perfection. The “Smallest Sunday” was about a golfball-ish sized portion which was just perfect for a filling meal. I had chocolate and caramel sauce added….WA! My wife chose the gluten-free cheeseburger, and she found it to be a surprising tastey. While many gluten-free food options can be fairly bland, this sandwich stood out for its flavor. More importantly, it was carefully prepared to avoid gluten and any cross-contamination. Although NG is not a dedicated gluten-free establishment, their staff clearly understands the importance of these precautions. We experienced no adverse effects whatsoever. Great job! Finally, if NG has an Achille’s Heel, it is in the initial greeting as we entered. Both greeters, along with someone we suspected was the manager, were prompt, professional, and efficient—perhaps overly so. they did not offer any smiles or warm greetings, instead carrying out their duties quickly and politely. They quickly assessed how many were in our party, whether we preferred a booth or a table, and then escorted us to our seats. However, that somewhat flat start to the evening was completely transformed by “Phredde” (…did we mention “Phredde?”). As we alluded to earlier, she truly elevated our experience, turning what would have been a 4-star review into the 5-star rating we are giving today.

We celebrated a birthday and had several people in our group with celiac disease. We enjoyed having options.